The Commonwealth Ombudsman has found that decisions by Centrelink and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry that denied financial assistance to people affected by the August 2007 equine influenza outbreak had been wrong. The Ombudsman, Professor John McMillan, investigated complaints from five businesses whose claims for the third Equine Influenza Business Assistance Grant (known as EIBAG) had been knocked back. He concluded that the claims had been incorrectly rejected and should be reconsidered.
Finds Agencies made wrong decisions
“Our investigation established that many other claimants had also been prevented from submitting proper applications for the third EIBAG,” Professor McMillan said, “as a result of incorrect decision making and advice by Centrelink and by DAFF inaction.” He said Centrelink and DAFF had made a number of mistakes handing the claims, including:
Centrelink’s misinterpretation of the criteria for the third EIBAG and subsequent incorrect decision making;
It’s failure to identify or remedy the error upon internal review; and
DAFF’s failure to identify or remedy Centrelink’s error in the course of its special case review process.
Professor McMillan recommended that Centrelink and DAFF institute a plan to review the claims of the five complainants, and of any other customers whose claims were similarly refused.
He said he was pleased with the cooperation he received from both Centrelink and DAFF in conducting his investigation and with their prompt and complete approach to implementing the recommendations in his report.
Centrelink said it had identified all the affected claimants and was in the process of contacting them to review their claims.
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